That's a very good analysis, Sherlock-37. I do think there's something to it. Both actors are doing "Irish gigs" (Eddie "Popeye" Egan was Irish-American) in their celebratory dances. Friedkin has always been vocal about his love for TREASURE (SORCERER teems with TREASURE'S influence), and I bet, based on your analysis, that the director encouraged Hackman to "quote" Walter Huston (who, by the way, learned his steps on Broadway from George M. Cohan). Friedkin, in fact, had another inspiration from TREASURE, one he thought of after the THE FRENCH CONNECTION was completed, and damned himself for not thinking of it earlier.
The director has claimed, given the chance, that he would change the ending of the film to show the police pouring out tons of confiscated heroin into the East River (which the police really did after it was used as evidence) while two junkies watched helplessly from a pier. Friedkin was inspired by the end of TREASURE when the gold is tossed away by the unsuspecting bandits, and it blows back to the hills from whence it came, while Howard and Curtain watch ten months of hard labor go down the drain.
An interesting idea by Friedkin, but really the ending of TFC is all its own and works perfectly.
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sherlock-37
10 years ago
I didn't know that there was another possibility of an ending. I agree with you, it is a great ending; especially the score. But I bet the director received a lot of flack over his ending.
That's another interesting connection to Treasure .But why would the police dump it in the East River, rather than use a controlled, procedural type of way, unless it was for the publicity, or to suggest a possible switch-a-ro, in light of the financial backers comments to Howard, the drug tester, when Howard was trying to take the large bag of heroin - "not that one; the little one." Yes, the ending you suggest could be effective. Although, the existing ending focuses on our main character, and the relationship with his police colleague.
Two great movies, to be sure.
My accountant says, 1 + 1, 40% of the time, equals divorce.
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wrfarley
10 years ago
The only reason I know the police threw the junk into the river is because Friedkin said so in interviews. I have one surviving uncle who was in the NYPD back in the day. I'll ask him the next time I see him... He's almost 90, so he might have forgotten.
You're right, too, if Friedkin had actually shot the East River ending it would have taken the focus off of Doyle who, afterall, the story is about.
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